We step out of the shower, and I wrap Dove up in an oversized towel before drying off myself. We get dressed quickly and head downstairs even though Dove’s long dark hair is still wet.
When we get to the bottom of the stairs, Karl meets us and takes us to the dining room. Castro is already sitting at the table. In front of him, a colorful spread of breakfast food. There are only three plates on the table, but food to feed about thirty mouths.
“Good morning,” Castro greets. “Please, sit, make yourself at home.”
“Why did you want us at breakfast?” I ask bluntly as I take the seat next to Matteo.
“To see my daughter for one…” Matteo curls his top lip, but he’s going to have to do better than that if he wants to scare me. I’ve taken tougher shits than him. I’ve ripped out men’s organs and strangled them with them.
“We’re happy to have breakfast with you, but after that, I’m taking Dove away from here. She doesn’t belong here, and she wants to go home.”
Matteo seems confused, which is weird because I’m pretty sure I spelled it out clear as day to him. “You seem to still be under the impression that you make the rules. It’s you who owes me, and as for Dove, she’s a big girl and can make her own decisions—”
“I want to go home,” Dove interrupts Matteo.
Castro throws back his head and laughs. “You are home now, Daughter. At last, you’re home. You’re the heir to the Castro empire. My only child.”
Dove visibly shudders at the word heir. She is clearly uncomfortable, and I know she wants to speak up, but she refrains.
He must think he’s so smart, that he’s pulled the cloth right over my eyes by helping me save Dove, little does he know, I see right through his bullshit exterior. He doesn’t want a relationship with her. He wants to use her, and I’m going to figure out in what way.
“I know you’re up to something, and I don’t like it. I smell bullshit.”
Matteo chuckles. “I only smell bacon, my friend… speaking of, could you hand me some.”
I take my fork and spear a few pieces of bacon with it, imagining I was stabbing Matteo’s eyeball instead. He takes the bacon from my fork with his meaty fingers and shoves it into his mouth.
“So, you’re really going to stick to the story that all you want is to have a relationship with your daughter?”
“Of course, I want more than that. I want her to be part of the family, part of the business. I want her to continue my bloodline. Marry and give me grandchildren to lead the next generation...”
The clang of a fork hitting the plate fills the room as Dove’s silverware slips from her shaking hand.
“I know it’s a lot to take in and get used to, but you’ll be fine, child. You’re my daughter, after all.”
“I don’t want to be part of any of this, and I definitely wouldn’t want my children—if I would choose to have any—to be part of this either.”
Matteo sighs heavily, his eyes gleam with danger. He is clearly annoyed with Dove’s outburst. “I don’t care what you want. You are my flesh and blood, and you will do what’s best for the family.”
“Don’t fucking talk to her like that,” I growl, slamming my fist onto the table. Silverware and expensive china rattle from the impact.
Matteo turns his attention to me, pinning me with a murderous gaze. “Let’s be very clear, Zane, the only reason you are still here—inside of my house—is to make the transition for Dove easier. If you don’t behave yourself, I will have you removed, and Dove will have to figure things out the hard way. Am I clear?”
My jaw hurts from grinding my teeth, and my muscles ache from exercising restraint when I give him a slight nod. He grins, and I have to look down at my plate before the last shred of my control is gone. Motherfucker. He’ll pay for this. He. Will. Pay.
I take a deep breath and look up at Dove. I expect her to be terrified, maybe cry. Instead, she surprises the hell out of me by swallowing her emotions and putting her game face on instead.
“Maybe we got off on the wrong foot,” she announces. “Like you said, I’m not used to all of this, and it will take me a while to adjust to the idea of me having a family. I’ve been on my own for most of my life, and Zane has been in my life the longest. If you want me to marry him and have children, then so be it.”
“Oh, child.” Matteo chuckles deeply. “You won’t marry him, of course. You have to marry one of my men. Someone I trust.”
I’m going to kill him. I don’t know when and where, but he just signed his death certificate. He’ll die by my hands, and it will be a painful death.
I look at Dove across the table and see the flicker of fear in her eyes. It kills me, rips a hole in my chest. I want to kill Matteo now, jam the knife next to my plate in his throat and watch him bleed out on the white tablecloth.
But I know his men would kill me after. I’d never get Dove out of here alive, and that thought is the only thing stopping me from acting on instinct.
Surprising me, yet again, Dove remains calm. “I love Zane. I don’t think I can marry someone else. There must be another way.”
“Love will get you killed in this business, child. I need you to marry someone that can be head of the family business, someone strong, a leader, not a hitman from one of my rivals. That’s never going to happen.” He pauses, and for a moment, it is painfully silent in the room, then Matteo continues, “Look, the best I can do for you is let Zane keep working for me. He can even be your guard. Which will work out great, since I know he would die to protect you. Hell, I don’t even care if you two keep fucking as long as you play the dutiful wife for everyone else to see.”
I open my mouth, about to say something when I see Dove shake her head across the table. Forcing the words back down, I sit silently instead.
“Can you just give me some time? I don’t know anything about this family yet. I don’t even know you. Can we take this slow?”
“Of course. It’s not like I’m planning on dying any time soon.”
You should be, old man. Because I’m planning your death right now.
33
After breakfast, we retreat to our bedroom. Zane is quiet the entire walk back upstairs, and I feel myself imploding from the inside out. So many things just happened.
My father… if I can even call him that, told me that he wants me to marry and have children with a man of his choosing. He’s made it incredibly clear that if things don’t go the way he wants, if Zane tries to interfere, he’ll retaliate. My mind is spinning.
He thinks he can control me, make choices for me, but he doesn’t even know who I am. I’m going to have to play by his rules until I come up with a plan, but the second I figure something out, I’m gone.
When we reach the bedroom and walk inside, Zane closes the bedroom door behind us, flicking the lock into place. A gasp escapes my lips when I’m pinned to the nearest wall. Lifting my head, my gaze collides with his. Fiery rage flickers deep in those depths. I can see his pain, feel his rage as he lifts his hand, and gently strokes my cheek.
“All I could think about while we were down there was how he planned to marry you off to another man, and how I will do everything in my power to stop him from doing so.” His teeth are clenched so tightly the words come out clipped. “I can’t let him take you from me. I didn’t do everything I’ve done, fight tooth and nail, barter, and beg to get you back, only to have you given to another man.”